Method for producing an injection-molded component and cylinder for a needle-free syringe

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an injection-molded part, the injection-molded part being a plastic cylinder for a needle-free syringe. The cylinder has an opening. The invention further relates to an injection-molding tool for producing the cylinder, the injection molded tool including an outer mold component and an inner mold component, which together define a clearance which determine the injection-molded part and the cylinder. The outer mold component and the inner mold component are designed such that the clearance is formed without an obstacle for plastic between the outer mold component and the inner mold component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing an injection-molded part for a needle-free syringe, the method comprising the steps of:
 forming an injection-molding tool from an outer mold component for an injection molding process and an inner mold component for the injection molding process, so that a clearance is formed;   forming a cylinder in the clearance during the injection-molding process, wherein the cylinder contacts, on all sides, an inner surface of the outer mold component and an outer surface of the inner mold component; and,   forming a through-bore in the region of a front end of the cylinder with a beam of a laser.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a substantially planar outer surface on the cylinder is formed by the outer mold component at a front end thereof and a substantially planar inner surface on the cylinder is formed by the inner mold component at a corresponding front end thereof, the planar outer surface and the planar inner surface defining a wall at the front end of the cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the through-bore is formed with the laser centrally and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis within the wall of the cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the laser is selected in terms of power and/or pulse rate so that the ablated material is sublimated. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the through-bore, introduced in the wall by means of the laser, has a diameter in the range of 0.015 mm to 1 mm, wherein the through-bore, produced by the laser, is designed such that the diameter remains substantially constant along a thickness of the wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a funnel-shaped contour is formed by the outer mold component at a front end of the cylinder and a substantially planar inner surface of the cylinder is formed by the inner mold component at a corresponding front end of the inner mold component, wherein the funnel-shaped contour and the planar inner surface define a wall at the front end of the cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the through-bore is performed with the laser centrally and substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder and the wall at the front end of the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the laser is selected in terms of power and/or pulse rate so that the ablated material is sublimated. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the through-bore, introduced in the wall by the laser, has a diameter in the range of 0.015 mm to 1 mm, wherein the through-bore produced by the laser is designed such that the diameter remains substantially constant along a thickness of the wall. 
     
     
         10 . A cylinder for a needle-free syringe, the cylinder comprising:
 a wall formed at a front end of the cylinder, the cylinder for the needle-free syringe defining a longitudinal axis substantially aligned perpendicularly to the wall; and,   a through-bore arranged within the wall, the through-bore introduced with a laser beam wherein the through-bore is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the through-bore has a diameter in the range of 0.015 mm to 1 mm and is designed such that the diameter remains substantially constant along a thickness of the wall.   
     
     
         11 . The cylinder of  claim 10 , wherein the wall at the front end of the cylinder is defined by a substantially planar inner surface and a substantially planar outer surface. 
     
     
         12 . The cylinder of  claim 10 , wherein the wall at the front end of the cylinder is defined by a substantially planar inner surface and a funnel-shaped contour at the front end of the cylinder.